Nation not to forget sacrifices of APS martyrs, armed forces: Marriyum

ISLAMABAD, Dec 16 (APP): Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb Friday said the nation would never forget sacrifices of martyred students and staff of Army Public School (APS) Peshawar, and the armed forces.
Addressing a function here at a college in memory of the martyrs of December 16, 2014 terror attack, she saluted the APS victims and martyrs of the armed forces, who offered sacrifices to realize the prime minister’s vision of eliminating terrorism from the country.
The minister said after the APS barbaric incident, the nation rose to the occasion, put aside all differences, and got united for the elimination of terrorism.
The brave Pakistani nation, she said, had been facing terrorism for the last many years, but its resolve for the elimination of the menace, could not weaken.
She said after the APS incident, an indiscriminate operation was launched against the terrorists, besides finalizing the National Action Plan.
The present government, she said, also formulated the National Internal Security Policy. Under the policy, all mobile SIMS were linked with national database, which was a unique feature. Though it was claimed that cellular phone companies might leave the country but the government gave priority to national security, she added.
The prime minister got united all political leadership on that point and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan played a important role in that regard, she added.
Steps were taken to ban hate speech, she said adding that registration of aliens was started while the policy for Afghan refugees return was also formulated.
Over 120,000 fake Computerized National Identity Cards were confiscated, illegal foreign residents were deported and border management system at the Afghan border was introduced, she added.
The minister appreciated the role played by the provinces and said that entire nation was united on the issue of terrorism. The war against terrorism would continue till the last terrorist was eliminated from the soil of Pakistan, she added.
She said the Pakistani nation was the most resilient one in the world. In the West, the people did not visit the sites of terror incidents for many months, but “we do not give up as the Army Public School Peshawar was reopened only a few days after the incident,” she added.
Candles were lit and Fateha was offered for the victims of APS tragedy.
Later, the minister inaugurated a two-day exhibition of ‘Mutabarraqat-e-Rasool (SAW)’ organised by Nazriya Pakistan Council here at Aiwan-e-Quaid, Fatima Jinnah Park (F-9 Park).